Tuck Sets Its Sights on the Class of 2028, Opens the 2025–2026 MBA Application

“It’s always thrilling to officially open Tuck’s doors to a wave of new, aspiring MBA students, and this year is no different,” says Lawrence Mur’ray, executive director of admissions and financial aid. “We’re eager to meet applicants for the Tuck class of 2028, hear their stories, and learn how they will positively impact our close-knit community.”

Interested applicants will have ample opportunity to connect with admissions officers and learn more about the Tuck MBA experience. Applicants can explore Tuck through online events, in-person events around the U.S. and the world, and Summer Visit Day—held on the Tuck campus in Hanover on July 11. All of Tuck’s admissions events can be found on the Tuck website.

Hopeful Tuck MBA students will have three chances to apply this admissions cycle with deadlines on September 25, 2025 (Round 1), January 5, 2026 (Round 2), and March 25, 2026 (Round 3). Decisions for each round will be communicated on December 11, 2025, March 19, 2026, and April 30, 2026, respectively. Those who submit their complete application (including test scores and Letters of Reference) by the following deadlines will be guaranteed an admissions interview: Round 1 and Consortium 1: September 2, 2025; Round 2 and Consortium 2: December 1, 2025. All other interviews will be offered on an invitational basis. Interviews will be conducted virtually with a limited number of on-campus interviews offered. All interviews are valued equally in the evaluation process, whether guaranteed or invitational, in-person or virtual.

For test scores, Tuck will accept all versions of the GMAT and the GRE General Test, including the GMAT Focus Edition and Shorter GRE General Test exams. Tuck does not prefer one test over another. Applicants whose academic and professional background demonstrates the quantitative reasoning and analytical capabilities essential for success in Tuck’s rigorous MBA curriculum may be eligible for a test waiver—more information regarding how to request a test waiver can be found in Tuck’s admissions FAQs.

Smart, accomplished, aware, and encouraging remain Tuck’s four primary admissions criteria. This year’s essay questions have been refined to better provide applicants with the opportunity to illustrate how they embody the criteria in detail. Applicants can expect three required essay questions, one optional, and one specifically for reapplicants. Essay questions one and two tie directly to the “aware” criterion, while essay three relates to the “encouraging” criterion.

“Essays are a critical facet of the application because we are seeking not just the best students, but the best students who will thrive in Tuck’s unique environment,” Mur’ray says. “These questions are specifically designed to give applicants the space to illustrate that Tuck is the right place for them to grow as a leader and as a person.”

2025-2026 Tuck Essay Questions

• Why are you pursuing an MBA and why now? How will the distinctive Tuck MBA contribute to achieving your goals and aspirations? What particular aspects of Tuck will be instrumental in your growth? (2000 characters)
• Tell us who you are. How have your values and experiences shaped your identity and character? How will your unique background contribute to Tuck and/or enhance the experience of your classmates? (2000 characters)
• Describe a time when you meaningfully invested in someone else’s success without immediate benefit to yourself. What motivated you, and what was the impact? (2000 characters)
• (Optional) Please provide any additional insight or information that you have not addressed elsewhere (e.g., atypical choice of references, factors affecting academic performance, unexplained job gaps or changes). Complete this question only if you feel your candidacy is not fully represented by this application. (2000 characters)
• (To be completed by all reapplicants) How have you strengthened your candidacy since you last applied? Reflect on how you have grown personally and professionally and how your understanding of Tuck has developed. (2000 characters)

Letter of Reference questions remain the same, aligning with GMAC’s Common Letter of Recommendation Questions.

Letter of Reference Questions

• Please provide a brief description of your interaction with the applicant and, if applicable, the applicant’s role in your organization.
• How does the applicant’s performance compare to that of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Provide specific examples.
• Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response.
• (Optional) Is there anything else we should know?

Apply to Tuck